Ramin Gray issued with formal warning by ATC after four misconduct claims upheld

Actors Touring Company has issued a formal written warning to Ramin Gray following an investigation into claims of inappropriate behaviour by the artistic director.

The investigation, which was launched in November 2017 after allegations of misconduct were made against the director, found that there were four instances of inappropriate conduct of a verbal nature, relating to two complainants. ATC declined to give any further details of the complaints because of its “duty to ensure confidentiality for all those involved in all stages of the investigation”.

Gray remains on a leave of absence from his role, and the company could not confirm whether or not he will remain in post. It said ATC and Gray “remain in discussion about ways forward”.

The remit of the investigation, carried out by solicitor Lucy McLynn, covered the period since Gray joined the company in 2010.

It involved interviews with complainants, ancillary witnesses and Gray himself, who “fully engaged with the process throughout”, according to an ATC press statement.

McLynn provided her report to ATC’s board in February, recommending that the matter was considered at a disciplinary hearing.

The disciplinary hearing was conducted by ATC board members, who determined an outcome in March 2018.

Gray appealed this outcome, and the appeal panel – made up of a selection of different ATC board members – gave its decision in May 2018, upholding four complaints against Gray of inappropriate verbal conduct. ATC has not confirmed whether or not the appeal outcome differed from the original decision in any way.

In line with McLynn’s initial recommendations, Gray has been issued with a formal written warning.

ATC said the process has been monitored by the Independent Theatre Council and all complainants have now been informed of the investigation’s result.

The chief executive of ITC, Charlotte Jones, said: “The ATC board has been scrupulous and thorough in commissioning an independent investigation and has run a fair and full employment process culminating in appropriate action.”

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